Snap fastener



J. H. OHOTTO SNAP FASTENER Oct. nl, 1940.

Filed May 8, 1940 Y Inventor JOHN OHOTro,

Patented Oct. l, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to snap fasteners for animal harnesses and other similar devices, and has for the primary object the provision of a durable, inexpensive and efficient device of this character which will be extremely easy and simple to open and close and which will not accidentally open during its use as a fastening medium and will only open when manually actuated in a proper manner and will not readily catch into objects when in use.

With these and other objects in view which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation illustrating a snap fastener constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the snap fastener in an open position.A

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the snap fastener in a closed position.

Figure 4 is an end view illustrating the snap fastener.

Figure is a sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates as an entirety a snap fastener including a bill portion 6, an eye 'I, a straight shank I' and a combined closure element and fastening device 8. The bill portion, eye 'I and shank 1 are constructed from a single length of cylindrical stock. 'Ihe stock is first bent upon itself to form the eye l, the latter being closed by a quarter twist of the stock about itself. The stock after forming the eye and the twist is bent to provide the bill portion 6 and the shank 1. 'Ihe bill portion includes a part A which parallels the shank I' and is spaced therefrom. The bill portion further includes a portion B having a compound curvature thereto forming offsets C and D. The offset C is for the purpose of receiving a ring or the like which may be applied to the bill portion for supporting the ring out of the path of movement of the combined closure element and fastening medium 8, as clearly shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive.

The closure element includes a tubular sleeve 9 slidably mounted on the shank 1' and is provided in opposite sides thereof with slots I0 through which extends a pin II secured in the shank 'I'. Integral with one end of the sleeve 9 and extending at substantially right angles thereto is a tongue I2 having a compound curvature Ii thereto providing an offset portion I3 to ilt in and conform to the offset D of the bill portion 6. The tongue opposite to the offset portion I3 has -an arcuate curvature thereat, as shown at I4, on I which the ring or other device applied to the bill l0 portion may ride when the snap fastener is in use, acting to retain the tongue in engagement with the bill portion. The tongue has a channel I5 formed therein to receive apart of the bill portion and the free end of the latter, as clearly 15 shown in Figure 3.

Surrounding the shank 'I' is a coil spring I8, one end of which seats against the sleeve 9 while the opposite end seats against an end flange I1 of a restraining sleeve I8 which may slide over the ifo sleeve 9. The spring forces the flange I'I of the sleeve I8 in engagement with a stop I9 on the shank 'I'.

When the sleeve I8 or the flange I1 thereof is in seated engagement with the stop I9 and the 25 tongue I2 of the fastening element in engagement with the bill portion, the spring is under a very slight tension so that when desiring to open the snap fastener, a person may readily move the sleeve 9 endwise on the shank 'I' against 30 the tension of the spring to disengage and space the tongue I2 from the bill portion, as clearly shown in Figure 2. This opens the snap fastener to its fullest extent so that it can be applied and removed in any extremely easy manner.

The sleeve I8 has formed in opposite sides thereof bayonet slots 20, portions of which are in the form of grooves pressed in the sleeve. The slots receive the pin II and when 'the closure element is in a position of engaging the bill portion 40 and the sleeve I8 moved in the direction of the tongue I2 and given a slight rotation, the pin will move into the lateral branches of the bayonet slots securing the sleeve I8 in the position shown in Figure 1, whereby the spring I6 will be put 45 under extremely severe compression increasing its action of forcing the tongue I2 of the fastening element into engagement with the bill portion of the fastener, and which will prevent the fastening element from being moved or slid on the shank 1( to disengage the tongue from the bill portion, consequently preventing opening of the snap fastener.

An oiTset 2I is formed on the sleeve 9 to permit a person to place a thumb or finger thereon Afor u imparting sliding movement to the sleeve l against the action of the spring. While I have shown and described the preferre embodiment of my invention, it will be under-v stood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departingA from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: ,f

l. In a snap fastener 'of the class described, a bill portion including a compound curvature to provide spaced indentations, an eye integral with the bill portion, a shank integral with the eye. a sleeve slidable on the shank and having a slot, a pin carried by the shank and extending through the slot, a tongue integral with the sleeve and extending at an angle thereto and including an indentation to engage one oi" the indentations of the bili portion and having a groove to receive a part of the bill portion and its free end.

2. In a snap fastener of the class described, a bill portion, an eye integral with the bill portion, a shank integral with the eye, a sleeve slidable on the shank and having a slot, a pin carried by the shank and extending through the slot, a tongue integral with the sleeve and extending at an angle thereto to engage and close the bill portion, a second sleeve slidable on the shank and receiving therein the first sleeve and having a bayonet slot to receive the pin, a stop for limiting the sliding movement o! the second sleeve in one direction, and a coil spring mounted on the shank and engaging the ilrst and second sleeves to urge the nrst sleeve in the direction of engaging the tongue with the bill portion and adapted to have its tension increased and de-y creased by the position of the second sleeve on the first sleeve.

3. In a snap fastener of the class described, a

' bill portion, an eye integral with the bili portion,

a shank integral with the eye, a sleeve slidable on the shank and having a slot, a pin carried by the shank and extending through the slot, a tongue integral with the sleeve and extending at an angle thereto to engage and close the bill portion, a secoond sleeve slidable on the shank and receiving therein the ilrst sleeve and 4having a bayonet slot to receive the pin, a stop for limiting the sliding movementofthe second sleeve in one direction, a coil spring mounted on the shank and 3 

